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The University of Essex is home to the curious, brave, and bold - an institution where curiosity thrives, and pushing boundaries is not just encouraged, but is expected. It is a place for those who seek to understand how things work while challenging why they do. With a strong commitment to making a difference in society, Essex places students at the heart of everything it does.
 

STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX  

Students at Essex learn from world-leading academics in a supportive, research-intensive environment. Over its 60-year history, the University has exceeded expectations, winning awards for teaching quality and continuously expanding its educational offerings to meet the evolving needs of society and industry. The flexibility of its courses allows students to tailor their studies to their passions and ambitions.

With campuses in Colchester’s historic parkland, the vibrant city centre of Southend-on-Sea, and the stately home setting of Loughton, Essex offers a unique and inspiring environment to study. A wide range of accommodation options ensures that students feel at home, with guaranteed housing for international students in Colchester and Southend for the duration of their course.

Essex has a proud history of producing successful graduates, including Nobel Prize winners, award-winning directors, national leaders, acclaimed actors, and astronauts. With over 100,000 alumni shaping the world, students who join Essex become part of a bold and ambitious global community, united by the Essex Spirit.
 

HISTORY of THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

'A new kind of university… where students could live and learn… and research really mattered' – this was the vision of the first Essex Vice-Chancellor, Sir Albert Sloman. His commitment to research and education remains at the heart of Essex’s mission today. In 1964, 122 students arrived on campus for the very first academic year, and in 2024, the University celebrated its 60th anniversary with more than 19,000 students receiving transformational education.
 

SPECIALIST AREAS at THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

The University of Essex is dedicated to excellence in education. They are committed to ‘research-led’ teaching, where every Essex student has direct experience of being a researcher themselves, helping students develop critical, analytic, and transferable skills.  

Across the three faculties of Arts and Humanities, Science and Health, and Social Sciences, a range of innovative teaching initiatives encourages students to broaden their understanding, develop their analytical skills, and boost their professional confidence. The University of Essex has expertise in many fields, with leading strengths in Law, Economics, Drama, and Physiotherapy. As the home of the Human Rights Centre, the University has a global reputation for excellence in interdisciplinary human rights education, research, and practice.

There are lots of ways to study at Essex, from traditional lectures and seminars, field trips and lab-based practicals to webinars and tutorials in the University's virtual learning environment. 
 

LIFE ON CAMPUS

The Colchester Campus is based in 200 acres of parkland close to the city centre. It offers extensive study, sports, and social facilities as well as medical and support services to ensure students achieve the most from their studies. Located an hour from London, Colchester is a great student city, offering a mix of shops, restaurants, theatres, and music venues. It also has a rich history as the UK’s first capital, with Roman settlements found all around the city.

The Southend Campus is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by all of its facilities. The campus offers modern learning and teaching spaces. The Forum building has a library, gallery and café. It also houses the Learning Hub, plus all of the student support services in one place. 
 

STUDENT SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

As an international community, the University understands the needs and concerns of international students. Their support and welfare services include healthcare, immigration advice, support with faith, and assistance with improving academic skills.

The University’s Student Services Hubs can help with general wellbeing and funding advice and there are facilities and advice available for students with disabilities and those struggling with issues like settling in and exam anxiety.

There is a health centre on the Colchester Campus which offers appointments with male and female doctors, as well as specialist services and counselling.

The Residence Life team offers support within on-campus accommodation by providing support, helping students to get to know their flatmates, and organising fun events to meet other students in their accommodation building.

The Faith Centre is for all members of the Essex community, offering a safe space to practise or explore faith either in the Centre or by connecting you to a local place of worship.
 

UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX FACILITIES  

Sports facilities 
The Essex Sport Arena has 1,655 seats and can host televised sporting events. The Arena contains eight badminton courts, three basketball courts, three netball courts, five volleyball courts and two futsal courts. The Sports Centre next door includes a modern gym, fitness studios and even a climbing wall.

Arts and theatre 
The Lakeside Theatre on the Colchester Campus, the Corbett Theatre in Loughton, and the Clifftown Theatre in Southend host student and professional productions  

Study and learning spaces 
Essex Business School in Colchester is a zero carbon building, with a winter garden, café and lots of space for group discussions.

The Forum Learning Hub in Southend is open 24 hours a day and offers a range of diverse spaces for study and group work. There is also a large lecture theatre, café and support services in the Forum.

The Silberrad Student Centre on the Colchester Campus has 24/7 access to a combination of IT-rich areas and study pods for group work.

The STEM Centre on the Colchester Campus includes a 180-seat web lab for the School of Life Sciences and a 150-seat IT-rich exploratory learning space to enable collaboration between students across the Faculty of Science and Health.

The Forum library in Southend is a vibrant contemporary space with outstanding learning facilities. The Albert Sloman Library in Colchester houses some of the UK’s finest collections, providing a fascinating insight into Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe.

The University has one of the world’s leading robotics research facilities, housing robotic wheelchairs, spiders, dogs, football players, fish and robotic aircraft.

 

SPORTS AND SOCIETIES AT tHE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

Studying at the University of Essex means being part of their award-winning Students’ Union. The Students’ Union (also known as the SU) helps to make sure that students get the most out of their time at Essex. 

The Student’s Union offers membership to over 100 societies. Students can meet people on campus before they join the University through social media and meet representatives from the different societies during Welcome Week on campus. 
 

Students come from over 130 different countries and the SU promises to support all students. There are over 30 different cultural societies. The International Students’ Association (ISA) celebrates and promotes cultural diversity on campus and represents international students’ interests through the SU VP international role.

There are over 40 sports teams, including football, cricket and basketball as well as sports like fencing and yoga. 
 

ACCOMMODATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

Accommodation is guaranteed for international students studying at Colchester and Southend Campuses for the duration of their degree. The University has a wide range of accommodation options within walking distance of campus facilities. The rent includes bills for wi-fi, heating, hot water, contents insurance, electricity, and cleaning of communal areas. 
 

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS  

The University of Essex is a truly international institution, with a long history of welcoming students from around the world. Essex is a global community that lives, works and plays together. Students study an internationally relevant curriculum, become part of a diverse community, and are taught by academics whose research has global impact. 
 

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

The University has established partnerships with universities from around the world to maximise the mobility and employability of its graduates. These include the European YUFE and YERUN partnership networks. 
 

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS

Many undergraduate courses offer study abroad opportunities. The University has relationships with over 150 institutions in 40 countries worldwide.   
 

EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Courses at the University of Essex are designed to equip students with a range of transferrable skills and experiences to help them start their careers. All undergraduate degrees include a module on employability. The Big Essex Award lets students gain recognition for extra-curricular activities which are recorded in their undergraduate HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Record), or the postgraduate FAR (Further Achievement Record). Workshops and webinars are also on offer to help students successfully apply for work after their studies. Training includes help with creating the perfect CV, tips on how to excel at interviews, and guidance on delivering a professional presentation.  

The University also supports entrepreneurship through Essex Startups, which offers a wide range of support to students and graduates interested in starting their own business, including funding opportunities, mentoring and workshops.
 

STUDY IN COLCHESTER OR SOUTHEND

Colchester is home to a wide range of shops, bars, pubs, cafes, nightclubs, visual and performing arts and live music venues to cater for all tastes. There’s a wide range of restaurants with student-friendly prices offering local and international cuisines. Colchester is under an hour away from all the attractions of London, and has good connections for both the UK and abroad. London Stansted airport is an hour away offering low-cost flights to many European and Middle East destinations, and London’s other airports are also easily accessible by public transport.

Southend-on-Sea’s location means there’s plenty to see and do. Well-known attractions abound, from Adventure Island amusement park and arcades to the famous Rossi ice-cream parlour. Southend is also a great gateway: London is just 45 minutes away by train, while London Southend Airport is only three miles from campus, offering flights to European destinations.
 

Why STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

1. World-Class Education and Research Excellence

The University of Essex is a research-intensive institution where students learn from leading academics in a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment. The flexible course structure allows students to tailor their studies to their passions, while hands-on, research-led teaching ensures they develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are highly valued by employers worldwide.

2. Vibrant International Community and Exceptional Student Support

With students from over 130 countries, Essex offers a diverse, welcoming, and globally connected community. International students benefit from a range of tailored support services, including guaranteed accommodation, academic assistance, and dedicated student welfare support. The award-winning Students’ Union and over 100 student societies ensure an enriching social and cultural experience.

3. Career-Focused Opportunities and Strong Industry Links

Essex is committed to helping students build successful careers through employability-focused courses, internships, study abroad programs, and partnerships with global institutions and industries. The university’s Big Essex Award recognizes extracurricular achievements, while workshops, career coaching, and networking events help students gain a competitive edge in the job market. 

Student population: about 15,000

Number of international students: 40%

City population: 180,000

Location: three campuses, all located within one hour of central London. The largest campus is located in a suburban setting in Colchester

Closest airports: London Stansted (1 hour), London Heathrow (2 hours)

Date of establishment:1964

Areas of expertise: Politics, Human Rights, Economics, Sociology and Art History

Notable alumni:

  • Dr Oscar Arias Sanchez (Winner of Nobel Peace Prize and former President of Costa Rica)
  • Dr Rodolfo Neri Vela (Mexico’s first astronaut)
  • Daniel Libeskind (Renowned architect, master plan architect of World Trade Centre site)
  • Sir Christopher Pissarides (Winner of Nobel Prize for Economics)
  • Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP (First female Speaker of Bangladesh’s parliament)
 

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

The university offers scholarships to which all international students can apply. Contact your advisor for more information. If you do not yet have a personal student advisor, please get in touch with an Across the Pond Advisor or use the form on this page to request one.

 

Study at University of Essex

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Coming from North America it is difficult trying to navigate the application systems of another continent, but my advisor made it easy. She was helpful through the whole… Read more

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